THE SIGN OF THE OLD COVENANT
Physical circumcision is a big thing for the Jews for whom it is the one, unique indicator of being Jew. It is unimportant for Christians who see it as one of many Jewish legalistic practices.The way we see, it they both have it wrong. The Jews err because they emphasize physical circumcision. Christians have it wrong because, in their eagerness to reject anything Jewish, they ignore spiritual circumcision.This thinking by both Jews and Christians is evidence of Old/First Covenant theology and practice. For both, it is all about the letter of the law and nothing about the spirit of the law. We will try to remedy this wrong thinking by first reviewing the origins of circumcision.
Genesis 17:10-14 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised; every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house, or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he that is born in your house and he that is bought with your money, shall be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
COMMENTARY: This scripture establishes the foundation of circumcision for those who are in a New Covenant relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is an everlasting covenant, but it is possible that people will break the covenant and be separated from God’s people.
This scripture poses some problems for people who do not understand the symbolism of circumcision. If circumcision is a sign of being in covenant relationship with God, and if circumcision in the flesh cannot be reversed, then how can it be possible that someone can break the covenant? And what does this requirement for circumcisions of males suggest about women being in covenant with God? The answers are found in later scriptures.
Genesis 17:23-26 Then Abraham took Ish’mael his son and all the slaves born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ish’mael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ish’mael were circumcised;
COMMENTARY: This implies that Abraham circumcised himself, Ishmael and other male members of his extensive household in one day. If this is referring to actual circumcision of the foreskin, we are challenged to imagine how it could be done. While it is not impossible, a more believable explanation is that the circumcision that occurred here was a spiritual circumcision of the heart and not circumcision of the flesh.